Hot on the heels of Sadiq Khan announcing that he’ll be swiftly moving forward with the plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street; it’s been revealed that yet another of London’s busiest streets could be following in a very similar car-free path. Westminster City Council and The Crown Estate have officially proposed their plans to pedestrianise Regent Street, in a bid to make it “a greener, more welcoming and accessible place”.
What do the proposed pedestrianisation plans involve?
The council’s prospective plans would see Regent Street St James’s (the stretch that runs between Piccadilly Circus and St James’s Park) transformed into a pedestrian plaza, making it completely closed to traffic. The street is currently used by vehicles heading northbound, and nearby Haymarket is used for southbound traffic. The proposed plans would involve Regent Street St James’s being pedestrianised and Haymarket being converted into a two-way traffic system.
Other plans that have been put forward include pedestrianising the nearby Waterloo Place, and restricting traffic on some of the side streets to allow for more al-fresco dining spaces and safer walking routes. The island that runs down the middle of Regent Street could also be removed. Pretty heartbreaking news for those of us who annually try (and fail) to awkwardly position themselves in front of the camera to make it look like the have angel wings. Don’t try and pretend that you have no idea what I’m talking about.
Final proposals and funding arrangements will be agreed in 2026. But in the meantime, you can have your say in the public consultation that’s running until August 10.
Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning & Economic Development at Westminster City Council, said: “By removing traffic from Regent Street St James’s and expanding pedestrian space at Piccadilly Circus, we’re creating a new network of public spaces that will serve Londoners for generations. This is a rare opportunity to reimagine the heart of the West End as a greener, more welcoming and accessible place that works better for residents, visitors and local businesses alike.”
You can read the full proposals and have your say in the public consultation (until August 10) here.